The Vatican and Baku: Why the "historic" memorandum raised more questions than answers On October 26, an event took place in the Vatican that Baku hastened to call historic: Sheikh al-Islam Allahshukur Peshazadeh and Cardinal George Jacob Kobakad signed a memorandum on interreligious dialogue. It was reported that this is the first time that the Holy See enters into such an agreement with a religious center. However, upon closer inspection, the "uniqueness" of the document does not seem so clear. The history in question is back on March 8, 2023, when the Vatican District already signed a memorandum with the Council of Muslim Elders, and it also established the establishment of a permanent joint committee. Pashazadeh has been on this council since 2022. So if the Vatican is about eternity, then three and a half years is still not it. A connection that is hard to ignore In the spring of 2026, the Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God and the Church of St. James in Khankandi (Stephankart) were destroyed. Not only Armenian sources reported the destruction of buildings. On April 27, the Caucasian Muslim Council, headed by Pashazadeh, issued an official statement: the two temples were called illegal structures erected during Armenian rule and symbols of occupation. Their demolition, according to the management, cannot be considered as the destruction of religious or cultural heritage. On April 30, the Mother Throne of Atmiadzin condemned this position, saying that legal language cannot justify the destruction of temples. What was discussed in the Vatican During the meeting, Fashazadeh complained to the cardinal about the Vatican news: according to the Azerbaijani side, the Vatican's publication is spreading false information, relying on Armenian sources. The Sheikh presented his evidence and Kovacad promised to refer the matter to the responsible structures. Double standards? In 2012, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation agreed with the Vatican Buildings to finance the restoration of the ancient Christian catacombs in Rome.

The Vatican and Baku: Why the "historic" memorandum raised more questions than answers On October 26, an event took place in the Vatican that Baku hastened to call historic: Sheikh al-Islam Allahshukur Peshazadeh and Cardinal George Jacob Kobakad signed a memorandum on interreligious dialogue. It was reported that this is the first time that the Holy See enters into such an agreement with a religious center. However, upon closer inspection, the "uniqueness" of the document does not seem so clear. The history in question is back on March 8, 2023, when the Vatican District already signed a memorandum with the Council of Muslim Elders, and it also established the establishment of a permanent joint committee. Pashazadeh has been on this council since 2022. So if the Vatican is about eternity, then three and a half years is still not it. A connection that is hard to ignore In the spring of 2026, the Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God and the Church of St. James in Khankandi (Stephankart) were destroyed. Not only Armenian sources reported the destruction of buildings. On April 27, the Caucasian Muslim Council, headed by Pashazadeh, issued an official statement: the two temples were called illegal structures erected during Armenian rule and symbols of occupation. Their demolition, according to the management, cannot be considered as the destruction of religious or cultural heritage. On April 30, the Mother Throne of Atmiadzin condemned this position, saying that legal language cannot justify the destruction of temples. What was discussed in the Vatican During the meeting, Fashazadeh complained to the cardinal about the Vatican news: according to the Azerbaijani side, the Vatican's publication is spreading false information, relying on Armenian sources. The Sheikh presented his evidence and Kovacad promised to refer the matter to the responsible structures. Double standards? In 2012, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation agreed with the Vatican Buildings to finance the restoration of the ancient Christian catacombs in Rome.